Navigating College Credit at Fordham University: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing the right college is a significant endeavor, and understanding how your prior academic work translates into college credit is a crucial part of the process. Fordham University, with its two New York City campuses, Rose Hill in the Bronx and Lincoln Center in Manhattan, offers various avenues for students to earn college credit, recognizing that learning extends beyond the traditional classroom. This article provides a detailed overview of Fordham University's policies regarding college credit acceptance, including Advanced Placement (AP) credits, International Baccalaureate (IB) credits, transfer credits, and prior learning assessment options.

Admission to Fordham University

Fordham University seeks applicants who will actively contribute to its community. Each year, the university welcomes approximately 2,500 students into its incoming class. To make the application process accessible, Fordham offers fee waivers to eligible students, including those who participated in the College Board’s SAT-to-College Application Fee-Waiver Program, members and dependents of the US Armed Forces, and other qualified applicants. Further fee waiver options are available through the Common Application.

Application Deadlines and Plans

Fordham offers several application plans to accommodate different student needs and preferences:

Early Action: Students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the regular response date.
Early Decision: This is a binding agreement where students commit to enrolling at Fordham if admitted and must withdraw any other pending applications. The Early Decision Agreement requires signatures from the student, parent/guardian, and counselor.
Regular Decision: Students submit their applications by a specified date and receive a decision typically no later than April 1.
Spring Admission: Fordham also accepts applications for spring first-year admission.

Specific deadlines include November and December for Early Action and Early Decision I, and January and February for Regular Decision and Early Decision II. International students typically have an earlier deadline, such as November 15. Deferred Early Action candidates can change their application plans to Early Decision II by submitting a request form by January 20. All application materials must be received by the specified deadlines. Fordham is also prepared to offer extra time and flexibility to students impacted by natural disasters.

Special Program Applications

Applicants to the Ailey Dance program or the Theatre program are required to select an alternate major. If not admitted to their chosen program, they will automatically be considered for their alternate major. Visual Arts applicants may apply through any of the application plans and should submit a portfolio of their work. Homeschooled students follow a similar admission process as students from traditional high schools. New York State residents who are homeschooled must present a high school diploma or its equivalent to be eligible for State student financial assistance. Students seeking short-term, full-time study at Fordham while matriculated at another college or university should apply for visiting student admission, completing the online Visiting Student Application. Visiting Students are required to complete a full-time academic course load (minimum 12 undergraduate credits per semester). On-campus housing is not available.

Read also: UCF Application Strategies

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit Policy

Fordham University grants credit for AP scores of 4 or 5. However, the extent to which these credits apply varies. While some courses may exempt students from introductory classes in their major, such as psychology, many students find that their hard-earned AP credits do not count toward their major or the core curriculum.

Arguments for Broader AP Credit Acceptance

Some argue that Fordham's current AP policy does not fully recognize the knowledge and skills students have already acquired. By not accepting certain AP credits, Fordham may inadvertently make students sit through material they already know, potentially leading to resentment and disengagement. Granting more credits toward core classes would free up space for students to explore different fields and ideas through elective courses. This would be particularly beneficial for students in demanding programs like pre-med, who often have little room for electives.

Fordham's Rationale

Fordham defends its AP policy by emphasizing the values of its core curriculum. The university aims to ensure that all students have a consistent foundation in methodology, content, and rigor upon graduation. According to Dr. Parmach, a member of the Fordham staff, granting too many exemptions based on AP credit could dilute the core.

Ongoing Evaluation

Fordham reevaluates AP tests periodically, as the College Board varies the tests from year to year. The university has also demonstrated a willingness to adjust the core curriculum over time, such as when it reduced the number of required English classes.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit Policy

Fordham University offers university credit for Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) exam scores of 5, 6, or 7. No credit is awarded for IB Standard Level exams, regardless of score.

HL scores of 5: Receive 3 general elective credits.
HL scores of 6 or 7: Receive core or elective credit when appropriate.

Students who wish to apply International Baccalaureate credit toward their major should consult with the appropriate department. It is possible, in some cases, to receive an exemption from a prerequisite based on performance on other standardized tests or on college-level courses, with grades of C or better, taken during high school.

Specific IB Exam Credits

Biology: Three core credits (Life Science). Students with core credit who are required to take biology for their major should consult the department for placement in biology courses.
Chemistry: Three core credits (Physical Science). Students with core credit who are required to take chemistry for their major should consult the department for placement in chemistry courses.
History (History of Americas, History of Europe, History of Asia): Each would receive 4 elective credits for a general upper-level (3000-level) history elective course.
Language A: If completed in English, 3 general elective credits.
Language B: If completed in English, 3 general elective credits.
Physics: Credits for the following required major courses: PHYS 1601, PHYS 1602, PHYS 1511, and PHYS 1512. This also satisfies core in natural science which includes both physical science core and life science core. Students with core credit who are required to take physics for their major should consult the department for placement in physics courses.
Psychology: Three elective credits for PSYC 1200.

Transfer Credit Policy

Fordham University has a liberal transfer credit policy, acknowledging that undergraduate-level learning can occur in various settings. To be considered for transfer credits, students must provide a copy of their transcript and a letter from the Dean or Registrar’s Office confirming their enrollment at the college. This documentation should be forwarded to the student's Advisor or Dean at Fordham University.

Prior Learning Assessment Options

Fordham offers several options for students to earn credit for prior learning experiences:

CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) and DANTES/DSST (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support): These exams cover a wide range of subjects in which students may already be proficient. Credits are awarded for each exam in which students receive a passing score. A maximum of 18 credits can be earned through testing. There is a fee, approximately $65 to $100 per exam, payable at the time of the test.
ACE/NPONSI (National Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction): The American Council on Education has evaluated many noncollegiate learning experiences and training programs sponsored by major companies and institutions. For students to receive credit, the learning experience must have occurred during a time period and class length as determined by ACE.
The Life Experience Portfolio Program: Where ACE/NPONSI is not applicable and there is not a suitable CLEP or DSST exam, students can develop a portfolio, with faculty assistance, to demonstrate the college-level learning that has resulted from experiences outside a formal academic framework. Students must have completed 15 classroom credits at Fordham to participate in the program, including the college writing requirements, but may not enroll after earning a total of 92 credits. Students should have strong writing skills.
The American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT) and the National College Credit Recommendation Service of the University of the State of New York (NCCRS): CREDIT and NCCRS have evaluated many noncollegiate learning experiences and training programs sponsored by major companies and institutions. For students to receive credit for these programs, the learning experience must have occurred during the time-period and class-length requirements determined by CREDIT and NCCRS.

Credit Hour Policy

All Fordham University certificate and degree programs are approved by and registered with the New York State Education Department. With the exception of the School of Law, all Fordham credit hour calculations follow NYSED guidelines, which are based on the federal definition of credit hour. A standard 3-credit course typically meets for three 50-minute hours or two 75-minute hours of instruction per week per 15-week semester, exclusive of examination periods. The graduate division of the Gabelli School of Business operates on a trimester basis, and the Law School complies with the ABA Standards regarding credit hour assignment.

Specific Course Types

Undergraduate Courses: The minimum requirement for maintaining full-time undergraduate student status is 12 credits per semester and 6 credits per semester for half-time undergraduate student status. Specific types of undergraduate courses include tutorials and independent study.
Graduate Courses: The minimum requirement for maintaining full-time and half-time graduate student status varies with the individual school. All schools, with the exception of the School of Law, comply with the federal definition of a credit hour. Specific types of graduate courses include online courses and hybrid courses.

School-Specific Credit Hour Practices

Gabelli School of Business: All undergraduate courses carry either 3 or 1 ½ credits, in compliance with the federal definition of “credit hour.” All upper level courses in the junior and senior years of the curriculum carry 4 credits, and the additional credit is earned by requiring three additional hours of class preparation per week in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
School of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS): PCS offers 3 as well as 4 credit courses in alignment with the policy followed by Fordham College at Rose Hill and Fordham College at Lincoln Center. PCS also awards one academic credit for a “life experience” workshop, which culminates in the submission of an approximately 20-page portfolio.
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS): Most programs require 12 credits to maintain full-time graduate student status and 6 credits to maintain half-time graduate student status, but exceptions apply for specific programs.
Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education: Only the 60 credit counseling degree requires 600 hours of fieldwork.
Graduate School of Education: Has devised a consistent credit hour equivalency policy which matches up a certain number of equivalency credits with concomitant enrollment in specific credit-bearing courses in order to determine full- or half-time status for its graduate students.
School of Law: Operates on the basis of two 13-week semesters and an optional 7-week summer session per year. Its courses carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 credits, calculated in accordance with the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools. The minimum requirement for maintaining full-time student status is 12 credits per 13-week semester and 6 credits per 13-week semester for half-time student status.

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